Summer Reading: Laurie R. King

by Natalie

I'm a huge mystery buff. Cozy armchair mysteries, thrillers, whodunits, classics ... you name it, I love it. I'm especially a fan of Agatha Christe and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and in general, I'm not a fan when people mess with the classics. There are a lot of post-Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes mysteries written by others (I'm not sure why that is, except that he was such a revered figure in the genre) but I never really loved any of them until I read Laurie R. King's Sherlock Holmes series.

You'll want to start with the first one, which is The Beekeeper's Apprentice.

To crib from the Amazon/Booklist summary:

In 1915, Sherlock Holmes is retired and quietly engaged in the study of honeybees when a young woman literally stumbles into him on the Sussex Downs. Fifteen years old, gawky, egotistical, and recently orphaned, the young Mary Russell displays an intellect to impress even Sherlock Holmes--and match him wit for wit. Under his reluctant tutelage, this very modern twentieth-century woman proves a deft protégée and a fitting partner for the Victorian detective. In their first case together, they must track down a kidnapped American senator's daughter and confront a truly cunning adversary--a bomber who has set trip wires for the sleuths and who will stop at nothing to end their partnership. Full of brilliant deductions, disguises, and dangers, this first book of the Mary Russell--Sherlock Holmes mysteries is "wonderfully original and entertaining . . . absorbing from beginning to end" (Booklist).

So really, Sherlock Holmes isn't the protagonist here ... it's Mary Russell. I love how her character is written, and I love her even more as the books progress in the series (there are currently eight published.) The next one is set to be released on September 4, and you better believe that I've already preordered it.

I also really enjoy King's Kate Martinelli series, which is set in San Francisco in modern day and features another female protagonist as a detective.

I'm always up for recommendations; any other mystery lovers out there who want to share their favorites?

{photo via amazon.com}

Comments

[Rebecca]

It sounds like you would love the Golden Age of British mysteries...these books are typically written in the 1930s or there about, and in particular I would suggest anything by Margery Allingham, Ngaio Marsh, or Dorothy Sayers.

[Jesabes]

I love these same kind of books! Have you read Diane Mott Davidson? And Carolyn Hart? She's going a bit downhill now, but her earlier books are great.

[rebecca]

I know they are gory, but I love Kathy Reichs novels like I love Ben & Jerry's ice cream...passionately, guiltily, and all in one sitting. However, I will be adding this one to my library list.

[Elizabeth]

Have you read Elizabeth Peters? Or the maisie dobbs series?